
FDA Approves First Anthrax Antitoxin
Anthrax antitoxin is the first monoclonal antibody approved under FDA's Animal Efficacy Rule, and the first product from BARDA's Project Bioshield to receive FDA approval.
On Dec. 14, 2012, FDA
Raxibacumab was developed by Human Genome Sciences (HGS) in conjunction with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HGS was acquired by GlaxoSmithKline in July 2012, making raxibacumab part of GSK’s portfolio.
Raxibacumab is the first monoclonal antibody approved under FDA’s Animal Efficacy Rule, which allows efficacy findings from adequate and well-controlled animal studies to support FDA approval when it is not feasible or ethical to conduct trials in humans. In this case, because inhalational anthrax is a rare and lethal disease, it is not possible to conduct adequate efficacy trials in humans.
In addition, the drug is the first to be developed under Project Bioshield to receive FDA approval, according to a
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